Business briefs

Associated Builders and Contractors discusses hiring and retaining great employees

The Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC), Cumberland Valley Chapter held its luncheon on February 21, 2008 at the ABC office in Hagerstown.

Speaker for the meeting was Mr. Bob Simmers, coordinator of the commercial vehicle transportation program at Hagerstown Community College. The topic of the meeting was hiring and retaining great employees.

Hagerstown Community College's Center for Continuing Education is offering a MODA Systems Inc. property and casualty course for those interested in learning the basic principles of property and casual insurance, as well as the Maryland regulations.

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The six-week course is offered from April 4 through May 9. Classes will meet Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the HCC Valley Mall Center. Cost is $399.

OMAHA Neb. - Hagerstown-based virtual assistant Ruth Martin of Maplewood Virtual Assistance is one of the 35 entrepreneurs who participated in the Valentine's Day broadcast of the Christian Work-At-Home Moment Radio Show.

"There has never been a better time to become an entrepreneur," Martin said. "The advances of technology bring ease to connecting with local and national clients."

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -Waste Management has launched Thinkgreen.com, an interactive Web site that supports Waste Management's ongoing efforts to educate the public about what happens to its waste. The project is designed to inform people about things they should know about the business of managing the 4.5 pounds of waste the average person generates each day. The interactive site, which tells the story of garbage from the curb onward, highlights how advanced technologies are recovering resources and protecting the environment.

Callas Contractors Inc. provided a safety orientation and construction site visit for a group of Chinese government officials who are responsible for site safety for the Beijing Olympic Games scheduled to begin in the summer. The 20-person delegation visit was coordinated and hosted by Kaplan College's Workforce Development Division.

J.D. Taylor, center, presents the 2007 award of excellence to Taylor Oliver, left, and Greg McKee of Oliver Homes Inc. in recognition of superior sales and service in 2007.

The award is given to the top level of builders who install Norandex building materials. Norandex, which is in the Williamsport Industrial Park, distributes Reynolds siding, Simonton vinyl windows, Mid-American shutters and Millennium and Geodeck composite decking.

Oliver Homes is celebrating its 60th year in the building business in 2008, and has built more than 2,500 homes.

Bowers Marine Sales' Customer Appreciation Night

A new Pro Team 190 TX was the setting for wines, champagne, cheese, crackers and fruit Jan. 7 at Bowers Marine Sales' Customer Appreciation Night.

Those attending the event filtered through the boats and tubes upstairs and accessories and catalogs downstairs.

There were prize drawings, and some guests made contributions to Boats, Bikes & Bowers, an organization established to fund birthday presents and regular outings for the children of Shining Tree.

Bowers Marine Sales' next major fundraiser is the Boats, Bikes & Bowers Poker Run scheduled for April 26. Information and registration packages are available for motorcyclists and boaters. For information, call 301-790-1848 or go to Bowers Marine Sales at 17815 Virginia Ave. in Hagerstown.

Real estate investing courses

Hagerstown Community College Center for Continuing Education will conduct a series of seminars for real estate investors in Washington County. The series includes: